TWO trouble-spot stairwells at a busy car park in Airdrie town centre are to be permanently closed to combat vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Steel doors will be fitted to shut off two of the three accesses between the storeys of the Hallcraig Street facility following talks between council officials, police and the fire service.

The stairwells at the back of the car park and at the corner closest to the Mill Street section and pedestrian crossing will be sealed off by October.

The stairs at the south-west corner will remain open.

Airdrie area committee convener Tommy Morgan says it is infuriating that the £30,000 move is required but is confident that closing the problem areas will prove to be a solution.

The Advertiser told three months ago of the spiralling costs of vandalism at the site, with all 15 stairwell doors being persistently damaged and some having to be removed, while 50 lighting units had to be replaced in just 11 months.

In 2013-2014 there were 39 incidents and 13 fixed penalties at the car park, with North Lanarkshire officials noting that “maintenance and repair costs for the year are still to be determined; with such persistent vandalism and anti-social behaviour, this is increasingly costly”.

Councillor Morgan told the Advertiser: “It’s really infuriating that, after all the work done between the council and NHS to create an extended and much-needed parking facility in the centre of the town, vandals have created this major issue.

“The stairwells create problems with people congregating and addressing these continued problems on a regular basis has been at significant cost to the public purse. The cost of maintenance is shocking.

“We’ve recognised the issue early on and I’m pleased we’ve found a solution that hopefully negates the likelihood of vandalism, addresses the drain on public resources and allays public concern by making the stairwells safer.

“Scottish Fire and Rescue were rightly concerned about making sure sufficient exits and access were available and I’m delighted that a way has been found. I do think this will solve the problem and we’ll be keeping a close eye on it.”

The 558-space car park opened in its current form in April 2012 after a £2.7 million extension to create additional spaces in a new upper deck with the attendant stairwells.

Airdrie’s councillors were informed of the stairwell closure decision, made after a site visit in April, when they attended their recent area partnership meeting in Gartlea.

Firefighters will retain secure key access to the two shut-off areas and vandalised internal doors will be repaired to their required standards, while new rear fencing and CCTV signs have been installed.

Council officials previously had to make adjustments at Hallcraig Street due to anti-social behaviour, including replacing areas of loose chippings with concrete to prevent the stones being thrown from the upper level at passers-by and nearby buildings.